A high-level investigation has been ordered following the discovery of a Rs 50,000 cash bundle in Rs 500 notes on the seat allocated to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The inquiry committee will include officials from security agencies, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and senior MPs.
The cash was discovered during a routine anti-sabotage check conducted after Thursday’s adjournment of the House. Such checks are part of standard security protocols, and items left behind by MPs are typically placed at a ‘lost and found’ counter.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed members about the incident during Friday’s session. He confirmed that the bundle was recovered from seat number 222, currently assigned to Singhvi.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s Response
Singhvi denied ownership of the cash and expressed surprise at the incident. He clarified that he was only in the House for three minutes on Thursday and spent most of his time at the canteen. “I carry one ₹500 note when I go to the Rajya Sabha. This is the first time I am hearing of such a thing,” Singhvi stated in a social media post.
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CCTV footage from the House is being reviewed to ascertain how the cash bundle ended up at the seat. The probe aims to determine if this was a deliberate act, a security lapse, or simply an oversight.
Political Fallout
The revelation led to heated exchanges in the Rajya Sabha. While some MPs from the ruling party questioned the propriety of the situation, opposition leaders defended Singhvi, demanding a thorough investigation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed concerns over the implications of such incidents for opposition leaders, “Today it is cash; tomorrow, they may accuse us of something else. A full investigation, including CCTV review, is necessary,” she said.
The incident highlights the need for enhanced security measures and transparency within Parliament. Both opposition and treasury benches have called for stricter scrutiny of activities in the House to prevent any misuse of the premises for maligning individuals or parties.
The findings of the investigation are awaited, and this episode could set a precedent for handling similar cases in the future.
